Paran, waiting with the Bridgeburners for Dujek on the crest of the hill, watched the wizard and the Trygalle mage engaging in a lengthy conversation the result of which seemed to leave Quick Ben bemused. The Daru, Kruppe, then joined them, and the discussion resumed once more. Heatedly.

‘What’s all that about?’ Picker wondered beside the captain.

Paran shook his head. ‘I have no idea, Lieutenant.’

‘Sir.’

Something in her tone brought him round. ‘Yes?’

‘You shouldn’t have left me in command – I messed it up, bad, sir.’

He saw the raw pain in her eyes, continued to meet them despite a sudden desire to look away. ‘Not you, Lieutenant. The command was mine, after all. I abandoned all of you.’

She shook her head. ‘Quick’s told us what you two did, Captain. You went where you had to, sir. It was well played. It’d seemed to us that there was no victory to be found, in any of this, but now we know that’s not true – and that means more than you might realize.’

‘Lieutenant, you walked out of that keep with survivors. No-one could have done better.’

‘I agree,’ a new voice growled.

Dujek’s appearance shocked both soldiers to silence. The man seemed to have aged ten years in the span of a single day and night. He was bent, the hand of his lone arm trembling. ‘Lieutenant, call the Bridgeburners over. I would speak to you all.’

Picker turned and gestured the five soldiers closer.

‘Good,’ the High Fist grunted. ‘Now, hear me. There’s half a wagon of back pay being loaded onto one of those Trygalle carriages below. Back pay for the company known as the Bridgeburners. Full complement. Enough to buy each of you an estate and a life of well-earned idyll. The Trygalle will take you to Darujhistan – I don’t recommend you head back to the Empire. As far as Tayschrenn and Fist Aragan and I are concerned, not one Bridgeburner walked out of that keep. No, say not a single word, soldiers – Whiskeyjack wanted this for you. Hood, he wanted it for himself, too. Respect that.

‘Besides, you’ve one more mission, and it takes you to Darujhistan. The Trygalle has delivered someone. He’s presently in the care of the High Alchemist, Baruk. The man’s not well – he needs you, I think. Malazans. Soldiers. Do what you can for him when you’re there, and when you decide that you can’t do anything more, then walk away.’

Dujek paused, eyed them, then nodded and said, ‘That’s all, Bridgeburners. The Trygalle are waiting for you. Captain, remain a moment – I would a private word with you. Oh, Picker, send High Mage Quick Ben up here, will you?’

Picker blinked. ‘High Mage?’

Dujek grimaced. ‘That bastard can’t hide any longer. Tayschrenn’s insisted.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Paran watched the small troop head down the hill.

Dujek drew a palsied hand across his face, turned away. ‘Walk with me, Paran.’

Paran did. ‘That was well done, sir.’